Roadway formation unit



June 29, 1943. E. H. GEYER ROADWAY Fonuulon UNIT Filed Dec. 2, 195s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. H. GEYER ROADWAY FORMATION UNIT June 29, 1943.

Filed Dec. 2, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet? /Zffmeyef- Patented June 29, 1943 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROADWAY FORMATION UNIT Ernest H. Geyer, Chicago, Ill., assignor of onehalf to Henry A. Taubensee, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 243,493

7 Claims. (Cl. 94-18) The present invention relates to devices for use in the formation of a roadway consisting of adjoining slabs of concrete.

In the formation of a roadway of this character or type, it is customary in some instances to iill the vspaces between the slabs with plastic filler material after formation of the slabs and to employ between the adjoining slabs dowel rod joints which act as load transfer means and have the ends thereof slidably mounted in the opposed portions of the slabs so that the slabs are free to expand or contract in response to temperature changes. It is further customary before pouring the concrete for the slabs to position the dowel rods in laterally spaced relation and at the desiredheighth above the roadbed and then to place on the roadbed and across the central portions of the rods a space-forming board having in the lower portion thereof downwardly facing V-shaped notches for accommodating or receiving the central portions of the dowel rods. After proper placement or positioning of the board on 'the roadbed the notches are lled with any suit-A able plastic material such as clay or putty in order to prevent the concrete during pouring thereof in connection with slab formation from flowing from one side of the board to the other. As soon as the concrete sets and roadway forming slabs are thus formed at the sides of the board, the board is removed and thereafter the notch filling material is removed from beneath the central portions of the dowel rods andthe space between the slabs is filled with the plastic filler material. In prac- -tice it has been found that the work incident to filling the notches in the board after placement Aof the board on the roadbed and across the central portions of the dowel rods and the work of removing the notch filling or closing material from beneath the dowel rods after removal of the board from between the slabs, requires a considerable amount of time and materially delays 4:close the downwardly facing notch for the dowel lrod with which it is associated and in addition `is adapted to remain in assembled relation with its dowel rod after removal of the board from the roadway. y

A .further object of the invention is to provide a notch closing device of the last mentioned character which serves temporarily to hold the dowel rod with which it is associated in connected relation withthe board so that the rod and board may be assembled or connected together prior to placement over Ithe roadbed and pouring of the concrete at either side of the board.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typev under consideration which is simple in design and may be manufacture at a low and reasonable cost.

Other objects of the invention andthe various advantagesr and characteristics of the present device will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several vnovel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like numerals of reference denote correspending parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a device embodying one form of the inventionY in operative relation with respect to a dowel rod and before attachment to a notched space forming board; V v

Figure 2` is a perspective `view showing the device of Figure 1 together with its dowel rod after attachment to the board and prior to pouring of the slab forming concrete at the sides of the board; o

Figure 3 is a sectional view on a smaller scale showing the device of Figures 1 and 2 and the dowel rod assembly and board after pouring of the concrete;

Figure 4 is a similar sectional View showing the device and dowel rod assembly-after removal of the space forming board and filling of the space betweenrthe slabs with the seal forming plastic filler material;

. VFigure 5 is a perspective view of the device of Figures 1 to 4, inclusive;

Figure y6 is a sectional view showing a device embodying a second or modified form of the invention in assembled relation with a dowel rod Vand a spaceforming'iller board;

Figure 'Tis a smallscale perspective view of the device of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a sectional view showing a device embodying a third form of the invention inassecured to the outer ends of the wings II.

sembled or associated relation with a dowel rod assembly and a notched space forming board; and

Figure 9 is a perspective of one part of the device of Figure 8.

The device which is shown` in Figures l to 5, inclusive, constitutes one form of the invention. It is adapted for use with a dowel rod assembly I0, and a ller board II in the formation of a roadway comprising a pair of adjoining concrete slabs S on a roadbed B. As shown in Figure 4, the slabs S, are spaced slightly apart and have a filling I2 of plastic filler material therebetween. The dowel rod assembly I operates to transmit load from one slab to the other and permits the slabs to expand and contract as the result of changes in temperature or climatic conditions. It is adapted to be assembled and placed on the roadbed prior to pouring of theA concrete in connection with formation of the slabs S and comprises a dowel rod I3, a sleeve I4, and a pair of stress reducers I5. The board II is adapted, as hereinafter described, to be placed on the roadbed B and across the central portion of the dowel rod assembly I0 and serves to separate the slabs S during pouring of the concrete therefor and to form a space s between the slabs. It is greased before it is placed in position on the roadbed B in order to -prevent the concrete from becoming bonded thereto, and is preferably formed of wood. Instead of being formed of wood the board may be formed of metal or any other suitable material or the board may be covered with sheet metal. After formation of the slabs, the board II is removed and the space s is filled with the lling I2, as well understood in the art. The dowel rod I3 of the dowel rod assembly I0 constitutes a -Llload transfer member and fits slidably within and is of less length than the sleeve I4. It is formed of solid steel or other suitable material and is arranged so that its ends project into the slabs, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the central portion thereof projects or extends across the space s. The sleeve I4 has its ends plugged or otherwise closed and is formed of such metal or material that the ends thereof become bonded to the slabs s after formation of the latter. The central portion of the sleeve is weakened by means of longitudinally extending slots I6 so that it Aruptures in connection with. initial contraction ofthe slabs and thus permits the sleeve ends to move with the slabs and to slide on the ends of the dowel rod I3. The stress reducers I are tubular and t on the end portions of lthe sleeve I4, as shown in sheet I of the drawings. They are formed of semiecylindrical sections and embody laterally extending wings I'I. In addition to the wings, the stress reducers embody at the outer ends thereof U-shaped legs I8. The latter are designed to rest on the roadbed B and serve to support the dowel rod assembly I0 in place and against tilting during pouring `of the concrete for the slabs S. The side pieces of the legs are welded or otherwise xedly The board IIforseparating or spacing apart the slabs S during. pouring of the concrete therefor is adapted to rest on the roadbed B and is preferably of slightly greater height than the slabs. It embodies in the lower portions thereof a downwardly facing V-shaped notch I9. The central portions of the dowel rod I3 and the sleeve I4 of the dowel rod assembly I Il iii iit within the upper end of this notch when the board and assembly are in their operative position on the roadbed prior to pouring of the concrete for the slabs S. The device which constitutes the rst form of the invention and is shown rin Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, serves temporarily to hold the dowel rod assembly I0 in connected relation with the filler board II and also to close the notch I9 against the flow of concrete therethrough. It is preferably formed of thin sheet metal and comprises a pair of side pieces 20 and 2I and a bottom connecting piece 22. The side pieces 2D and 2| are designed to t against the sides of the board II and have circular axially aligned holes 23 therein for the central portion of the sleeve I4 of the dowel rod assembly. They are of sufiicient width effectively to close the notch I9 and are adapted to bepressed into snug fitting relation with the sides of the board II by the wing equipped stress reducers I l. The bottom connecting piece 22 extends between and is formed integrally with the lower margins of the side pieces 2i) and 2i. It is adapted to underlie and close the bottom of the notch I9 in the board I I and serves to prevent concrete from flowing under the side pieces and into the notch. The side piece 2l is of greater height than the side piece 20 and is adapted to have the upper end thereof bent over the top of the board II, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, in order temporarily to hold the device and dowel rod assembly in connected relation` with the board. In forming the roadway forming slabs S the sleeve I4 with the dowel I3 therein is inserted through the holes 23 in the side pieces 20 and 2I and is then adjusted until it is centrally positioned with respect to the device. Thereafter the wing equipped stress reducers I'I are slid onto the ends 0f the sleeve I4 and into abutment with said side pieces. At the conclusion of this step the dowel rod assembly IIB is applied to the board II by bringing the central portion of the sleeve into alignment with the bottom of the notch I9 and then raising the assembly until the central portion of the sleeve engages the top of the notch and the bottom connecting piece 22 of the device bears against the bottom of the board. After so positioning or assembling the dowel rod assembly, the upper Aend of the side piece 2I is bent over the top of the board by striking it with a hammer or other suitable tool. After bending the upper end of the side piece 2l into place the stress reducers II are urged inwards as 4far as possible in order to bring the side pieces 2U and 2l into snug engagement with the sides of the board. When the device consisting of the side pieces 20 and 2| and the bottom connecting piece 22 is in place, the dowel rod assem-bly Ill is in attached relation with the board and the sides and bottom of the notch I3 are effectively closed. After connecting or attaching the assembly to the board by bending the upper end of the piece 2| over the top of the board, the board with the assembly is placed on the roadbed yB, as shown in Figure 3. Thereafter the slabs S are formed by pouring concrete on either side of the board. As soon as the concrete sets or hardens the upper inwardly bent end of the side piece 2i is swung upwards, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and the board II is removed from between the slabs by prying or sliding it upwards. After removal of the board the upper projecting end of the side piece 2I sleeve I4@L of the dowel rod assembly Illa.

of the device is either cut away by a sheet Vmetal cutter or saw, or it is bent inwardly beneath the top faces of the slabs S. After this operation the space s between the two `slabs S` is filled or poured full of plastic filler material to form the filling I2. The device which is shown in Figures 1 to 5 may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost because of its simplicity of design and yeffectively and eiciently fulfills its'v intended purpose. It has a two-fold purpose inl that it serves as a seal or closure for the notch I9 in the board and at the same time constitutes an attaching medium whereby the dowel rod assembly I may be attached to the board prior to placement of the board on the road-V way bed B. Whereas only a single device has been shown and described in sheet 1 of the drawings, it is to be understood that a plurality or group of devices together with dowel rod assemblies are used in connection with the formation of theroadway forming slabs S.

The device which is shown in Figures 6 and '1 constitutes a second or modified form of the invention. It is adapted for use with a dowel rod assembly Il!a and a filler board ||a inthe formation of a slab formed roadway (not shown). The dowel rod assembly II!a is the same in design and construction as the assembly I0 I.of Figures 1 to 4, inclusive, with the exception that it embodies no U-shaped legs for supportingY it against tilting during pouring of the concrete for the roadway forming slabs. It serves asa load transfer means or medium, the same as the assembly Ill and consists of a dowel rod I3, a sleeve I4, and a pair of stress reducers I 5e. The rod, sleeve and stress reducers are the same. in design and serve the same purpose as the rod I3, the sleeve |4 and the stress reducers `I constituting the dowel rod assembly I0. Theboard I I is adapted to be placed on the roadbed and across the central portion of the dowel rod assembly Illa and embodies in the lower portion thereof a downwardly facing V-shaped notch I9a for accommodating such portion. The device which constitutes the second form of the invention serves temporarily to hold the dowel rod assembly I!!a in connected relation with the board II and in addition operates tov close the notch IBEL against the ow of concrete therethrough and to hold the dowel rod assembly Ill against .tilting during pouring of the concrete. It is formed of sheet metal and consists of a pair of U-shaped parts 24 and 25. The part 24 coinprises a pair of vertically extending side pieces 26 and 21 and a bottom connecting piece 28l The piece 28 is formed integrally with and extends between the lower ends of the side pieces 26 and t 21 and is adapted to rest on'the roadbed. The side pieces 26 and 21 have notches 29 in the upper portions thereof for receiving one end of the The sidepiece 21 is adapted to fit against one side of the board I If, as shown in Figure 6, and serves to close one side of the notch |98'. The side piece 26 is disposed adjacent the outer end of the adjacent stress reducer and coacts with the side `piece 21 to hold the assembly Il) against tilting. 'The U-shaped part 25 is adapted for placement against the other side of the iiller board IIa and consists of a pair of vertically extending side pieces 3D and 3! and a bottom road bed engaging bottom piece 32. The side pieces 30 and 3| have notches 33 in the upper ends thereof for receiving the adjacent end of the sleeve |4f of the dowel rod assembly IIIe. The side piece 3| is `nected relation.

adaptedto nt against the board lla, as shown in Figure 6, and serves in conjunction with the side piece 21 of the U-shaped part 24 to close the sides of the downwardly facing V-shaped notch I 9a. The side piece 30 coacts with the side piece 26 of the part 24 to hold the assembly I6 against tilting during pouring of the concrete. In order to close the bottom of the notch against the fiow of concrete, the part 24 is provided with an auxiliary bottom piece 34 and the part 25 is provided with an auxiliary bottom piece 35. The piece 24 fits against and is riveted to the bottom piece 28 of the part 24 and projects inwardly under the inner portion of the bottom piece 32 of the part 25. The auxiliary bottom piece 35 is riveted to the bottom piece 32 of the part 25 and projects under the auxiliary bottom piece 34, as shown in Figures 6 and '1. The auxiliary bottom pieces 34 and 35 form a sliding lap joint for closing the bottom of the notch llia in the filler board la. By having the pieces 34 and 35 in sliding engagement with one another, the lap joint is expansible and contractible and hence adapts itself `for use in connection with filler boards which vary in thickness. In order temporarily to hold the parts 24 and 25 in connected relation with the filler board ||a the side pieces 21 and 3| are provided at their upper ends with opposed inwardly extending beads 36. These beads, as shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, are adapted whenthe parts 24 and 25 are in associated relation with the board IIa to fit within longitudinally extending grooves 31 in the sides of the board. The grooves are positioned above the notch I3"L in the lower portion of the board II". In assembling the device of Figures 6 and 1 with respect to the dowel rod assembly IIIa and the board I Ia, the part 26 is first shifted up# wards in order to bring the adjacent end of the sleeve IIIa within the notches 29. When the part 24 is in its proper position, the upper ends of the side pieces 26 and 21 straddle or bear against the ends of the adjacentstress reducer I5a. After application of the part 24 to the dowel rod assembly, the part 25 is shifted upwards in order to bring the opposite or other end of the sleeve |4 into the notches 33 in the upper ends of the side pieces 30 and 3|. At-the conclusion of this step` or operation, the assembly together with the device is shifted upwards in order te bring the central portion of the sleeve 4a into the upper end of the notch I9al in the board IIa. During this shifting operation the beads 33 at the upper ends of the side pieces 21 and 3| snap into the grooves 31 in the sides, of the board and thus hold the device of Figures 6 and 7 together with the dowel rod assembly Ii)EL in temporary con After attachment of the device to the board, the board, assembly and device are placed on the roadbed and concrete is poured at either side of the board. As soon as the concrete hardens the board IlEl is removed. kThereafter the board formed space is filled with plastic material, as well understood in the art. The notches 29 and 33 preferably have restricted entrances, as shown inFigure '1, in order that the parts 24 and 25, when applied to the sleeve, tend to re'- main in place. The device of Figures 6 and 7 is simple in design and hence is capable of being manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It is usable in connection with a thick or Vthin filler board and is characterized by the fact that it serves in addition to closing the notch |$Ja against the iiow of concrete therethrough and holding the `dowel rod assembly ||la in temporary connected relation with the filler board IIa to support the assembly against tilting during pouring of the concrete at the sides of the board.

'I'he device which is shown in Figures 8 and 9 constitutes a third embodiment of the invention. vIt is adapted for use with a dowel rod assembly |01 and a ller board IIb in connection with the formation of a slab formed concrete roadway (not shown). The assembly |010 is the same in construction and design as the assembly IIJ of the assembly of Figures 1 to 4, and comprises a dowel rod |31), a centrally weakened dowel rod encasing sleeve Mb, and a pair of stress reducers |5b. The stress reducers fit snugly and slidably on the central portion of the sleeve |41 and are provided with outwardly extending wings I1a and U-shaped legs |81. The legs are adapted to rest on the roadbed and serve to hold the assembly against tilting during pouring of the concrete. The filler board 1 serves the same purpose as the filler boards I I and I la and embodies in the lower portion thereof a downwardly facing V-shaped notch I9b for accommodating the central portion of the sleeve |41). The device of Figures 8 and 9 serves temporarily to hold the assembly |01J in connected relation with the filler board ||1 and in addition operates to close the notch |91 against the entry or flow of concrete. It is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises a pair of complemental parts 38. The latter consist of side pieces 39 and bottom pieces 40. The side pieces are adapted to fit against the sides of the board IIb, as shown in Figure 8, and have holes 392L in the upper ends thereof for the central portion of the sleeve Mb. The

bottom pieces 4|] are formed integrally with and project outwardly from the bottom margin of the side pieces 39 and are adapted to rest on the roadbed. The outer ends of the bottom pieces 4|) have transversely extending downwardly facing grooves 4| for the central `or intermediate portions of the U-shaped legs |81. The parts 38 embody wires 42 at the upper ends thereof and these wires, as shown in Figure 8, are adapted to be twisted together at the upper ends thereof in order to form a saddle or'yoke around the upper portion of the board 1. The side pieces 39, when in their operative position, are pressed into rm or snug contact with the sides of the board by the stress reducers |510. The device of Figures 8 and 9 is assembled by rst passing the sleeve |51J through the holes 40 in the side pieces 39. Thereafter the stress reducers |51D are slid onto the ends of the sleeve. After the last operation the dowel rod assembly |01 together with the parts 38 are raised or otherwise moved in order to bring the central kportion of the sleeve |41) into the upper end of the notch |91 in the lower portion of the filler board IIb. After such manipulation, the wires 42 are bent inwards over the top of the board IIb and then twisted. After assembly of the device the board lib is placed over the roadbed and concrete is poured at either side thereof to form the roadway forming slabs. After hardening of the concrete, the wires 42 are cut and the ller body II1D is raised from between the slabs. Thereafter, the board formed space is filled with plastic material. During pouring of the concrete at the sides of the board ||11 the side piece 39 of the parts 33 close the sides of the notch Ita against the flow of concrete into the notch. By employing the transversely extending grooves 3| in the bottom pieces 40 so` that such pieces are in hooked relation with the U-shaped legs |81 of the dowel rod assembly |08, the lower portions of the side pieces are held in rm Contact with the sides of the ller board Hb. 4The device of Figures 8 and 9 is simple in design and hence may be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modied within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a ller board having a notch in the lower portion thereof and adapted to be placed on a roadbed and to have concrete poured at the sides thereof for roadway slab forming purposes and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the notch and its ends adapted for embedment in the slabs, a pair of side pieces tting against the sides of the board and across the notch for preventing entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board, and bead and groove connections between the side pieces and the sides of the board for temporarily securing said pieces in connected relation with the board.

2. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a filler board having a downwardly facing notch in the lo-wer portion thereof and adapted to be placed on a roadbed and to have concrete poured at the sides thereof for roadway slab forming purposes and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the upper portion of the notch and its ends adapted for embedment in the slabs, a pair of side pieces mounted on said central portion of the load transfer member and fitting against the sides of the board and across the notch for preventing entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board, and a pair of slidably engaging lap joint forming bottom pieces at the lower ends of the side pieces for closing the bottom of the notch when the board is in its operative position.

3. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a ller board having a notch in the lower portion thereof and adapted to be placed on a roadbed and to have concrete poured at the sides thereof for roadway slab formation purposes and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the notch and its end adapted for embedment in the slabs, stress-reducers slidably mounted on portions of the ends of the member and provided with downwardly extending roadbed engaging legs for holding the member against tilting during pouring of the concrete, a pair of side peces mounted on the central portion of said member and fitting against the sides of the board and across the notch for preventing entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board, and means extending between the lower ends of the side pieces and the legs for holding said lower ends of the side pieces in firm abutment with the sides of the board.

4. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a filler board having a downwardly facing notch therein and adapted to be placed on a roadbed and to have concrete pour-ed at the sides thereof for roadway slab formation purposes and further adapted i upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having one portion thereof extending through the notch and other portions adapted for ernbedment in the slabs, and a pair of side pieces for preventing entry of concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board and having notches in the upper ends thereof for said one portion of the load transfer member.

5. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a ller board having a downwardly facing notch in the lower portion thereof and adapted to be placed on a roadbed and to have concrete poured at the sides thereof for roadway slab forming purposes and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the upper portion of the notch and its end portions adapted for embedment in the slabs, and a pair of side pieces for preventing entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board fitting against the sides of the board and having in the upper ends thereof notches with restricted entrances for said central portion of the load transfer member.

6. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a filler board having a downwardly facing notch in the lower portion thereof and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the upper portion of the notch and its ends adapted for embedment in the slabs, a pair of tubular stress reducers extending around portions of the ends of the member and disposed at opposite sides of the board, and a pair of U- shaped devices positioned at the sides of the filler board and beneath said member and consisting of upstanding inner side pieces held by the inner ends of the stress reducers against the sides of the board and across the notch and serving to prevent entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board, flat roadbed engaging bottom pieces connected to and extending outwardly from the lower ends of the inner side pieces and outer side pieces extending upwardly from the outer portions of the bottom pieces and in substantially parallel relation with the inner side pieces and having the upper ends thereof abutting against the outer ends of the stress reducers and extending around theadjacent parts of the member so that they serve to hold said member against tilting relatively to the roadbed during pouring of the concrete.

7. A unit adapted for use in roadway formation and comprising in combination a filler board having a downwardly facing notch in the lower portion thereof and adapted to be placed on a road'bed and to have concrete poured at the sides thereof for roadway slab forming purposes and further adapted upon hardening of the concrete to be removed from between the slabs, a load transfer member having the central portion thereof extending through the upper portion of the notch and its ends adapted for embedment inthe slabs, and a pair of U-shaped devices positioned at the sides ofthe filler board and beneath the load transfer member and consisting of upstanding inner side pieces fitting against the sides of the board and across the notch and serving to prevent entry of the concrete into the notch prior to hardening of the concrete and removal of the board, flat roadbed engaging bottom pieces connected to and extending outwardly from the lower ends of the inner side pieces, outer side pieces connected to and extending upwardly from the outer portions of the bottom pieces and positioned in substantially opposed and parallel relation with the lnner side pieces, and slidably engaging lap-joint forming auxiliary bottom pieces connected to and extending inwardly from the first mentioned bottom pieces and serving to close the bottom of the notch when the board is in its operative position, certain of said side pieces of the devices have means at the upper ends thereof whereby they are attached to the adjacent parts of the load transfer member and serve to hold said member against tilting relatively to the roadbed during pouring of the concrete.

ERNEST H. GEYER. 

